ABOUT

Establishment of the fund:

Kenyon Alumni for Title IX, an independent alumni-led group, established the Title IX Fund. The group began by building public and private forums to empower alumni and current students. In these forums, students were able to share their stories and connect with others about the topic of sexual assault and misconduct on campus. The Title IX Fund is an extension of these efforts; the fund will ensure that the on-campus community has ample resources to enable positive change.

Our mission:

The Title IX Fund’s mission is to help Kenyon be a safe, compassionate place for college students to fall in love with intellectual curiosity, the world, and one another.

To facilitate this we need to create a community that is sensitive to every student’s right to consensual sex and the pain that ensues when that right isn’t protected. The Title IX Fund aims to shape Kenyon into that kind of place.

Colleges and universities across the nation are faced with alarming statistics about sexual assault and misconduct on campus. According toa survey commissioned by the Association of American Universities, one in seven students and one in four women are assaulted in college, most don’t report incidents to anyone, often out of fear or shame.

This shouldn’t be the case at Kenyon. We can do better. We can lead the nation by example.

Donations to the Title IX Fund will go directly to Kenyon’s Office of Title IX and Civil Rights to support the following:

Campus Events

These events should be hosted by any on-campus student groups. Events can be summits, music festivals or other gatherings that are approved by Office of Title IX and Civil Rights and promote a culture of consent on campus.

External Speakers

These external speakers should provide greater insight and perspective on civil rights and gender equality in education and matters of sexual assault and misconduct. The campus should expect these speakers to help educate, inspire and engage the community.

Operational and Structural Needs

This includes funding existing programs to support women and men who experience sexual assault as well as new programs and technologies to enable easier incident reporting and provide additional victim support. The Office of the Title IX coordinator will provide an annual report on the use of funds, which will be made available on this website.

FAQ

Answers to some possible questions you might have:

If I this is an alumni-led initiative, why am I donating directly to Kenyon?

This fund is a 100% organic effort of Kenyon alumni. However, since contributions will be directly applied to the budget of the Office of the Title IX coordinator, Kenyon allows us to utilize their existing infrastructure.

What is the mission of this fund? And who decides if events and speakers align with it?

The Title IX Fund’s mission is to help Kenyon lead the nation when it comes to creating a safe, compassionate place for college students to fall in love with intellectual curiosity, the world, and one another. This can only happen if Kenyon is a community that is sensitive to every student’s right to consensual sex and the pain that ensues when that right isn’t protected. The allocation of this fund is determined by Kenyon’s Office of Title IX and Civil Rights.

How do I know that my contribution will be used to promote a culture of consent on campus?

Contribution to the Alumni Title IX Fund will be directly applied to the budget of the Office of the Title IX Coordinator and funds will be administered by the Title IX Coordinator. An annual report on the use of funds will be made available on this website.

Is my contribution tax deductible?

Yes, so feel free to donate more. Your contribution may also be eligible for a matching gift from your employer.

Will my contribution only be used for programs that are directly run by the Office of the TItle IX Coordinator?

No. Providing support for victims and promoting a culture of consent are campus wide efforts and all organizations on campus will be eligible to receive funding from the Office of the Title IX coordinator for relevant programs.

How can I contribute my time and knowledge to this effort beyond giving money?

If you attended Kenyon at any point in time or are an alum, you may join the closed Facebook group to discuss and build more initiatives. You may also contribute your voice to the Kenyon Alumni for Title IX blog at https://medium.com/@alumni4title9.

I thought that Title IX related to gender equality in athletics and education?

Title IX is a national act that ensures that no person is discriminated against on the basis of sex in an educational setting. It is best known for enforcing equal opportunities to both genders in sports and education, its mandate is much broader. Under Title IX, colleges nationwide have a responsibility to address and prevent sexual harassment and violence in all its forms on their campuses.